Messer 801 Notes Flashcards
BIOS
Basic Input/Output System
What is the BIOS?
A computer’s firmware (software) that facilitates the communication between the computer’s hardware and Operating System
What can you do with the BIOS?
Configure boot order
Enable/Disable system components
Enable/Disable system features (e.g., system password)
Edit hardware settings
Where are the BIOS settings stored?
On the CMOS chip
CMOS
Complimentary metal-oxide semiconductor
How is the CMOS configuration maintained?
With a battery on the motherboard. This battery maintains the integrity of the data should the computer lose power.
What are the main types of motherboard form factors?
ATX
microATX
ITX form-factor
ATX
Advanced Technology extended;
Standardized by Intel in 1995
microATX
Small form factor
Backward compatibility with similar mounting points and power connections as a full-size ATX motherboard
ITX form factor
Mini-ITX. Pico-ITX, Nano-ITX, Mobile-ITX
Various small form factor sizes
PCI
Peripheral Component Interconnect
Legacy expansion slot
Speeds: 133 MB/s to 533 MB/s
PCI-X
PCI Extended
Designed for servers
1,064 MB/s throughput
PCIe
PCI Express
Serial communication - 1x, 2x, 4x, 8x, 16x, 32x lanes
High performance for devices like high-end graphics adapters
Speeds from 250 MB/s to 2 GB/s
AGP
Accelerated Graphics Port Covers the gap between PCI and PCIe AGP 1x - 266 MB/s AGP 2x - 522 MB/s AGP 4x - 1.07 GB/s AGP 8x - 2.1 GB/s
Types of custom workstations
Graphics/CAD/CAM Audio/Video editing Virtualization Workstation Gaming PC Home Theater PC Standard Think Client This Client
Graphics/CAD/CAM
Processor, Video, and RAM
Maximum RAM
Audio/Video editing
Video, and storage
Fast storage and dual displays
Virtualization Workstations
Processor and RAM
Maximum CPU and RAM
Gaming PC
Processor, Video, and Audio
High-end cooling
Home Theater PC
Video, Audio
HDMI, surround sound, TV tuner
Standard thick client
Recommended Windows requirements
Thin client
Basic applications
Northbridge
- Manages the connection between the CPU and memory
- Connect high-end graphics (AGP or PCI Express)
- Integrated into newer CPUs, including processor cores, memory controller, and the GPU
Southbridge
- Relatively slower connections than the Northbridge
* USB, Ethernet, PATA, SATA, etc.
SIMM
- Single In-Line Memory Module
- 72-pins
- Electrical pins are the same on both sides
RIMM
- Rambus In-Line Memory Module
- 184-pin
- Proprietary
- Every slot must be filled with a Continuity and Termination RIMM (CT-RIMM)
DIMM
- Dual In-Line Memory Module
- Electrical contacts are different on each side
- SDRAM - 168 pins
- DDR SDRAM - 184 pins
- DDR2 and DDR3 SDRAM - 240 pins
SO-DIMM
- Small Outline DIMM
- Laptops and mobile devices
- DDR and DDR2 SDRAM - 200 pins
- DDR3 SDRAM - 204 pins
ROM
Read only memory
Cannot be changed or erased
PROM
Programmable read only memory
Write once
EPROM
Erasable Programmable Read only memory
Write/erase/write again
EEPROM
Electrically Erasable PROM
Flash memory
SRAM
Static RAM
Maintains data without constant refreshing
Very fast and expensive
Used often for processor caches
DRAM
Dynamic RAM
Requires constant refreshing to maintain data
SDRAM
Synchronous Dynamic RAM
Synchronous with the system clock
DDR
Double Data Rate SDRAM
Twice the data rate of SDRAM
Used often in processor caches
DDR2
Double Data Rate 2 SDRAM
2x the bus clock multiplier of DDR
DDR3
Double Data Rate 3 SDRAM
4x the bus clock multiplier of DDR
Parity memory
Additional parity bit for error detection for single bit errors
Cannot repair the errors
Error Correction Code
ECC
Detects errors and corrects them on the fly
Ideal and typically used in server machines
Too expensive and impractical for standard workstations
Multi-channel memory
DDR RAM
Installed in pairs or trios for maximum throughput
Memory channels have identical colors
Steps to install expansion card
- Check motherboard documentation for types and number of slots
- Check adapter card documentation for software and hardware requirements
- Use ESD strap, anti-static bag, and other ESD precautions
- Confirm driver installation through Windows Device Manager
(May need to download the driver from the manufacturer’s website)
CD
700 MB
DVD
Single layer - 4.7 GB
Dual layer - 8.5 GB
Blu-ray
Single layer - 25 GB
Dual layer - 50 GB
ROM
Read only memory
Cannot write to media
RW
Read/Write
Used for backups
RAID 0
Striping
Splits data across 2 drives
Fast writing but no redundancy
Minimum of 2 drives required
RAID 1
Mirroring
Data is duplicated across drives
Slow write speeds but complete redundancy
Minimum of 2 drives required
RAID 5
Striping with Parity
Data is striped with parity
Efficient use of disk space and good redundancy
Minimum of 3 drives
RAID 1 + 0
Striped file blocks across mirrored drives
High disk utilization and high redundancy
Minimum of 4 drives required
Socket T
Intel 775 pins LGA Later Pentium 4s ad Core 2 DDR2/DDR3
Socket B
Intel 1,366 pins LGA Core i7 DDR3 (triple channel)
Socket H
Intel 1,156 pins LGA Core i3/i5/i7 (Nehalem) DDR3 (Dual channel)
Socket H2
Intel 1,155 pins LGA Core i3/i5/i7 (Sandy Bridge) DDR3 (Dual channel)
Socket 940
AMD 940 pins PGA Athlon 64 FX DDR (dual channel)
Socket AM2/AM2+
AMD 940 pins PGA Athlon 64 (FX, X2)/ Phenom Xx DDR2 (dual channel)
Socket F
AMD 1,207 pins LGA Athlon 64 FX DDR2 (dual channel)
Socket AM3
AMD 941 pins PGA Athlon II/Phenom II DDR2/DDR3 (dual channel)
Socket AM3+
AMD 942 pins PGA Athlon II/Phenom II DDR2/DDR3 (dual channel)
